Morning Prayer

“The Fundamentals—A Testimony to the Truth, Vol. 1:” in “History of Higher Criticism,” Dean Dyson Hague introduces the J, E, D, and P hypotheticians. Dean Hague is “on it like white on rice.” Fair, restrained, descriptive and scholarly. But oh wait! Those fundies are illiterate backwoodsmen. Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” more famous Americans are quoted in terms of the high view of the Bible: Patrick Henry, U.S. Grant, Horace Greeley, Andrew Jackson, R. E. Lee, and John Quincy Adams. For Psalm 27, Prof. Calvin obfuscates rather than exposits Psalm 27.9. And this is not the first time that he’s muddied the text instead of clarifying it. Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Abraham:” brings us to the note on Abraham’s death. The article has two lovely pictures of the memorial building built over the Cave of Machpelah, the site of the burial of Abraham and Sarah. ISBE on “Leviticus:” Joshua and Deuteronomy quote P-passages of Leviticus, but not the reverse. That means that P-passages of Leviticus must “predate” Deuteronomy. Quite the note. For Genesis 19: Prof. Keil discusses the geography of the Sodom area after the judgment. A place of sulfuric fumes where animal and plant life does not exist. For Judges 11ff., Prof. Keil reviews the Pentateuch history of Moses and Israel passing through Sihon and Og’s territory, facts that remain in the memories of the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites. For Isaiah 12.1-2, Prof. Henry notes the need for praise and thanksgiving when God’s kingdom moves forward. ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall comments on the word “world” in John’s writing, a word with moral content. For Mathew 10.1ff., Prof. Jamieson is still discussing the apostolic lists in the Gospels, noting that Judas is at the bottom of each. For Romans 7, Prof. Hodge comments on Paul’s statements that the law brings the knowledge, conviction and remorse for law-transgressions. For Acts 1.15-26, Prof. Henry finishes the section with some comments on Judas. Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” outlines the traveling itinerants known as Sophists. Plutarch’s comment on them is included. EDT: “Hans Kung” (1928-2021):” outlines some of Kung’s later works, noting that he moved to deny Papal infallibility and Biblical infallibility, running afoul of JP2 and B16. For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge once again exquisitely reviews nature, design, intelligence and will in Creation. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond re-engages Clark Pinnock, whom he congratulates for holding to the historicity of Genesis 1-3. For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof outlines soteriology. For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff discusses the martyrdom of St. Paul under Nero. For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff further discusses the “Ordeal.” For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff gives another letter from Cranmer to a friend over the loss of the friend’s son to illness and a plague. For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch discusses Vadianus’s Adiaphorisms of 1537 as unpleasing to Dr. Cranmer. It’s about the bone-muncher-cruncher views of the Bread-worshippers. For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff begins the outline of the actual Formula of Concord with its anthropological center of gravity. 1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #676-678 outline the Second Coming with clarity. Westminster Confession of Faith 11.5: 5. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and, although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.